Railroad-tie.



H. W. SCHLUETER.

RAILROAD TIE.

APPLlCATION HLED MAY 31. Hill.

1,273,678. Patented July 23,1918.

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IIIIIIHJH jade/2%? firu y mime? WW HENRY W. SCI-ILUETER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

RAILROAD-TIE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July '23, 1918.

Application filed May 31, 1917. Serial No. 172,095.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY W. SOHLUn- TER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Railroad-Tie, of which the following is a specification.

My invention .relates to railroad ties. The principal object of the invention is to provide a tie of such a shape that it will take advantage of the natural elasticity of the ground.

A further object of the invention is to provide a concrete railroad tie of self-tamping form.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in combination with a concrete tie, means for increasing the elasticity of the tie by the interposition of a wooden block between the tie and the rail.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a metal cover for the wooden block so that it will be protected against the Weather and retained so that it cannot shatter or split due to the stresses therein.

Further objects and advantages will be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly 1n section, showing the completed tie with the rail fastened thereto.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on a plane represented by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, this plane being viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the blank form which the block cover is formed.

Fig. 5 is a section through a portion of the road bed, showing the completed and ballasted track.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a strap.

In the form of the invention illustrated in these drawings, a railroad rail 11 is shown, this rail being supported on concrete t/ies 12. Each of the ties 12 is a trapezoid in section, having a wide side 13 and a narrow side 14, these sides being connected by inclined sides 15. Resting upon the side 13, at a roper distance apart to accurately space t e rails 11, are a pair of wood blocks 16, these blocks being located inside protective sheet iron covers 17. Each of the covers 17 is formed from a blank 18, being turned over with rounded sides 19 and straight edges 20, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, and being provided with clenching flaps 21, having slit edges 22, these edges being bent up as shown at 23 in Fig. 1 to lock into the body of the concrete tie 12. Fitted into grooves in the top of the wood block 16 on either side of the rail, under the cover 17, are a pair of straps 24, these straps having a threaded opening 25 in the center and having two straight openings 26 on either side thereof. The metal cover 17 has holes punched therein as shown in Fig. 4 to register with the openings 25 and 26 when the members 24 are in place. The openings 25 are filled with hard grease during shipment. having tapered heads, are placed in the openings 26, extending down into the body of the tie 12 and being clenched around longitudinal reinforcing rods 31 of a metal reinforcement extending through the tie. This reinforcement consists of the longitudinal bars 31, and similar longitudinal bars 32, and cross reinforcement 33. Holding-down bolts 34 are passed through clamps 35 on either side of the rail, being threaded into the openings 25 of the block 24. The concrete ties 12 are cast about the reinforcement 31, 32 and 33 and about the ends 22 of the member 21. The ties are preferably cast at a central plant where the concrete can be accurately mixed and hardened. The blocks 16 are preferably creosotcd, or otherwise impregnated, to protect them against decay.

I attach great importance to the trapezoidal shape of the tie, as by this shape con siderable elasticity can be obtained.

I also attach considerable importance to the method of anchoring the blocks 24 to the body of the tie and to the method of providing a metal cover for the creosoted wooden blocks, so that their life may be greatly prolonged.

I claim as my invention 1. In a reinforced concrete railroad tie; a wood block; a sheet metal cover for protecting and anchoring the block to the tie; a pair of straps set into said wood block under said cover; means for securing each Holding-down spikes 30,

e. I 'of said straps to said tle; and means for mg through sald straps and clenched over securing the railroad rails to said straps. ,7 thereinforcementinside said tie; and means 2. In a rein-forced concrete railroad tie; for securing the ra11r0ad rails to saldstraps. 1 a Wood block; a sheet metal cover for pro- 7 In testlmony whereof, I have hereunto set tecting and anchoring the block to the tie; my hand at Los Angeles, California, this a pair of straps set into said wood block 24th day (ifMay, 1917. i under said cover; holding-down spikes pass: V HENRY W. SOHLUETER.

fiopiesi of this patent may be obtained for five, cents eaeh, by addressing the Commissioner of Bateatq,

' 7 Washington, D. G. r 

